PERROR(3C)          UNIX Programmer's Manual           PERROR(3C)

NAME
     perror, sys_errlist, sys_nerr - system error messages

SYNOPSIS
     perror (s)
     char *s;

     int sys_nerr;
     char *sys_errlist[ ];

HP-UX COMPATIBILITY
     Level:    HP-UX/RUN ONLY

     Origin:   System III

DESCRIPTION
     _P_e_r_r_o_r produces a short error message on the standard error,
     describing  the  last error encountered during a system call
     from a C program.  First the argument string _s  is  printed,
     then  a  colon,  then  the message and a new-line.  To be of
     most use, the argument string should be the name of the pro-
     gram  that  incurred  the  error.  The error number is taken
     from the external variable _e_r_r_n_o, which is set  when  errors
     occur but not cleared when non-erroneous calls are made.

     To simplify variant formatting of messages,  the  vector  of
     message  strings  _s_y_s__e_r_r_l_i_s_t is provided; _e_r_r_n_o can be used
     as an index in this table to get the message string  without
     the  new-line.   _S_y_s__n_e_r_r is the largest message number pro-
     vided for in the table; it should  be  checked  because  new
     error codes may be added to the system before they are added
     to the table.

HARDWARE DEPENDENCIES
     Series 500:
          The error indicator _e_r_r_i_n_f_o is implemented in  addition
          to  _e_r_r_n_o,  enabling  you  to  obtain  a  more detailed
          description of the error.  See _e_r_r_i_n_f_o(2).

SEE ALSO
     errinfo(2), errno(2).